The Rugby Championship kicks off for 2017 this weekend, starting with old foes New Zealand and Australia facing off in a match that doubles as the first of the three-match Bledisloe Cup series. So where will the two matches be played, what time do they kick off, and who will feature?

City just another game for old boss Aloisi

Whatever sentiment John Aloisi had left for the A-League club formerly known as Melbourne Heart vanished when they were taken over by Manchester City.

Aloisi will coach against his old side for the first time on Friday night when his Brisbane Roar hosts Melbourne City at Suncorp Stadium.

So much has changed since Aloisi was unceremoniously sacked by the Heart in December 2013, on the back of a woeful 17-match winless streak.

Widely written off as a coach back then, Aloisi now finds himself top of the table, having guided his side to four wins in six games, and back in the good graces of A-League fans.

Yet for Melbourne City, things remain ever the same - despite a total rebrand, a new multi-million dollar headquarters and all the trimmings that come with being a part of the City Football Group empire, they are still maddeningly inconsistent.

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Indeed, another bad result in Brisbane would pile even further pressure on Aloisi's successor in Melbourne, John van 't Schip.

"Really, the people that owned the club are no longer there - the City Group's there, I wasn't there with them," Aloisi said on Thursday morning.

"My focus has always been on Brisbane Roar since I've signed here and every week, we prepare the same."

Aloisi's only remaining ties to City are in players like Ben Garruccio or Stefan Mauk, who he originally handed their A-League debuts.

"Unless you're there day in, day out, you don't know what happens within a football club. I can't really comment," he said when asked for his view on City's form issues.

"All I can say is if you allow them to play, they can play. They've got some really good players."

Aloisi said he didn't have any special plans for arguably the A-League's best player, Aaron Mooy, who will return from Socceroos duty and slot straight back into the City midfield, or their "electric" frontman Bruno Fornaroli.

Fullback Ivan Franjic is in line for a possible appearance against his old club, although City coach van 't Schip was coy when asked about his chances.

The Roar will receive their own boost with captain Matt McKay, in-form striker Jamie Maclaren and left-back Corey Brown all back from international commitments - although Aloisi said he won't decide on his starting side until the morning of the match.

"They look sharp. Whoever I start, I'm sure they'll do the job. I've got no worries about that," he said.

STATS THAT MATTER

* Brisbane have scored in all of their home league clashes with Melbourne City, averaging two goals a game (W5 D1 L2).

* City won all three of their encounters with the Roar last season, only conceding one goal.

* Brisbane are looking to keep four consecutive clean sheets for the first time since September 2010.